Toolkit Partners Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
Why was “How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians" created?
Empowers Black and Brown Parents and Guardians to:
- Be effective advocates for their children.
- Protect their children from the discriminatory disciplinary policies that fuel the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Respond to excessive and wrongful punishment of their children.
What is the school-to-prison pipeline and how can the toolkit help?
Many don’t know that prisons are built based on the number of third-graders who fail – this is how the term school-to-prison pipeline was coined. The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing national trend where Black and Brown children are disproportionately funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems because of harsh, excessive, and wrongful punishments, and discriminatory disciplinary policies. Black and Brown students are more likely than their white peers to face the most severe punishments. Because of lost instructional time in the classroom, suspensions and expulsions are connected to lower graduation rates and higher rates of subsequent criminal activity.
Justice reform needs to start in the schools and parents are in need of resources to help them powerfully advocate for their children.
Thee toolkit will empower Black and Brown Parents and Guardians to:
- Be effective advocates for their children.
- Protect their children from the discriminatory disciplinary policies that fuel the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Respond to excessive and wrongful punishment of their children.
What questions should Black and Brown parents and guardians ask during Parent-Teacher Conferences?
This “Parent-Teacher Conference Guide” on page 4 of “How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians" will empower parents/guardians with the right questions to:
- Advocate and obtain feedback about their child during conferences with their child’s educators.
- Monitor, document, and evaluate their child’s progress so they can set high expectations for him/her.
- Understand the teacher's approach to instruction, classroom management, and discipline.
- Gain clarity about demographic data, rules, policy, and procedures.
How should Black and Brown parents advocate for their children after a suspension or expulsion?
The toolkit advises Black and Brown parents and guardians to advocate for their child whether they need to correct him/her or not.
This "5 Steps to Advocate for Your Child After Discipline Issue" guide on pages 7 -9 of the “How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians" is designed to help and guide parents/guardians on how to advocate for their children after any suspension or disciplinary issue. You should use it immediately after you get a call or letter from the school about an incident involving your child.
Who created “How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians?"
Honey Brown Hope Foundation Founder and Executive Director Tammie Lang Campbell created the toolkit to share with parents what she has learned from 20+ years of advocating for Black and Brown students impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline's discriminatory discipline practices. She knows that now more than ever, parents are in need of resources to help them powerfully advocate for their children.
Learn more about Tammie Lang Campbell here: www.honeybrownhope.org/founder.
How can groups partner to amplify reach of the toolkit or support Honey Brown Hope Foundation's school-to-prison pipeline advocacy work?
We welcome support to help get the word out about the “How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians." Click here to submit the partnership interest form.
Please view scrolling slideshow below that highlights testimonials from our partners for the "How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians."
"How to Advocate for Your Child Forum" Has 9,000 Views on Facebook
What the Toolkit Includes
- 10 Back-to-School Starter Tips shares advice for black and brown parents/guardians protect their children from harsh, discriminatory policies fueling the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Parent-Teacher Conference Guide will empower parents/guardians with the right questions to advocate and obtain feedback about their child during conferences with their child’s educators.
- Notification for School Not to Question Child Without Parent/Guardian Present or Written Consent Form will empower parents/guardians with information to notify the school campus and district that their child should: not be questioned or requested to sign any documents by school officials, CPS personnel, campus resource officers and/or law enforcement without your presence or written consent.
- Records and Receipts Guide & Worksheet are designed to help parents/guardians start a file with information about their child.
- 5 Steps to Advocate for Your Child After Discipline Issue is a guide is designed to help and guide parents/guardians on how to advocate for their children after any suspension or disciplinary issue.
- Know Your Right to Access Your Child’s School Record Guide & Sample Letter includes your rights to access your child’s school record through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), tips to request records, and a sample letter to request records.
To launch the toolkit, the Honey Brown Hope Foundation and Fox 26 Houston hosted "How to Advocate for Your Child: A Forum for Black and Brown Parents," a moderated panel discussion about how Black and Brown parents/guardians can advocate for their children and use new Honey Brown Hope Foundation toolkit to do so. The discussion received over 9,000 views on Facebook! Please consider watching the playback below or by clicking following links: view on Youtube or view on Facebook.
How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians
Many don’t know that prisons are built based on the number of third-graders who fail – this is how the term school-to-prison pipeline was coined. The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing national trend where Black and Brown children are disproportionately funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems because of harsh, excessive, and wrongful punishments, and discriminatory disciplinary policies. Black and Brown students are more likely than their white peers to face the most severe punishments. Because of lost instructional time in the classroom, suspensions and expulsions are connected to lower graduation rates and higher rates of subsequent criminal activity.
Justice reform needs to start in the schools and parents are in need of resources to help them powerfully advocate for their children. As a natural extension of its work to derail the school-to-prison pipeline, The Honey Brown Hope Foundation created the “How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians."
The “How to Advocate for Your Child: Toolkit for Black and Brown Parents and Guardians” is in English and Spanish. It was translated in Spanish by the National Parent Union. The Toolkit Empowers Black and Brown Parents and Guardians with step-by-step guides, templates, sample letters, and tips to:
- Be effective advocates for their children.
- Protect their children from the discriminatory disciplinary policies that fuel the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Respond to excessive and wrongful punishment of their children.